Ice forming and ice melting cooling system



Oct. 16, 1951 1 M0RR|S0N y2,571,924

ICE FORMING AND ICE MELTING COOLING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 8. 1949 2 SHEETS- SHEET l Oct- 16, 1951 J. l. MORRISON ICE FORMING AND ICE MELTING COOLING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 8. 1949 Patented Oct. 16, 1951 ICE FOR-MING AND ICE MELTING COOLING SYSTEM Joseph I. Morrison, Lincolnwood, Ill.

Application February 8, 1949, Serial No. 75,265

16 Claims.

This invention relates to cooling systems and, more particularly, to a cooling system for use in a commercial dairy and the like where the cooling demand is variable. Because of the inherent characteristics of milk, it is necessary that upon receipt of the bulk milk at the cooling station it be cooled to approximately 40 F. in order to prevent deterioration of certain vitamins and other valuable ingredients contained in the milk. The bulk milk, upon being received, is separated and placed into convenient cans or receptacles which, in turn, are placed in a cooling tank where the temperature of the milk is lowered to the required 40 F. The milk is held at this temperature until it is ready for further processing. Examples of cooling systems of this type are disclosed in my Patent No. 2,448,433, dated August 31, 1948, and my pending application, Serial No. 68,198, led December 30, 1948.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a cooling system which is relatively small in size, yet has a highly efcient heat-absorbing operation.

A further object of my invention `is to provide a liquid-freezing and ice-melting apparatus in which the ow control and cross-sectional area of the flow passage will remain substantially unchanged regardless of the thickness of ice deposited on the confining Walls of the passage, in which the length of flow will increase as the ice is melted and in which turbulence of flow is created to bring all parts of the flowing fluid into contact with the ice formation to increase the speed of melting of the ice.

' It is a further object of this invention to provide a cooling system which causes the liquid circulating throughout the system to become turbulent when adjacent the cooling coils or pipes and thereby effectuate greater heat transfer from the circulating liquid.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a cooling system which is simple and compact in construction, effective and efficient in operation, and inexpensive to produce.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a cooling system is provided compris- 2 t semblies being mounted on each of said baille members. Mounted on either face of the baille members and extending therefrom in an angular direction into the space formed intermediate adjacent baflle members are a plurality of fin-like members. The fin-like members cause the liquid circulating between the baie members to become turbulent and thereby effect greater heat transfer from the liquid to the assemblies mounted on the adjacent baie members.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be made to the drawings wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary, sectional, side elevational view of the preferred form of reservoir;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional, top plan View of the reservoir taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the reservoir shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional, side elevational view of a modified form of reservoir;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional, side elevational view of the modified form of reservoir taken along line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of one of the balile members mounted within the reservoir shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic View showing the direction of flow of the circulating liquid in the reservoir shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of one of the baiiie members of the reservoir shown in Fig. 4 showing the formation of the congealed liquid thereon, and

Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 8 but shows the congealed liquid partially melted away by the circulating liquid.

Referring now tothe drawings and, more particiilarly, to Figs. 1 and 2, a reservoir Ill of the preferred type is shown, which is operatively connected by suitable conduits I2 and I4 to an adjacent cooling tank, not shown. Intermediate the cooling tank and reservoir IU is provided a suitable pump (see I 0a, Fig. 5) for circulating a cooling liquid through the reservoir and cooling tank.

Mounted within the reservoir I0 are a plurality of parallel, vertically-extending, spaced balile members I6 and I8, and a transversely mounted baffle member 20 dividing balile members IB and I8 into substantially equal sections I6a, lsb, IBa, and I8b. The baffle members I6, IB, and 20 are so arranged within the reservoir as to cause the direction of flow of the circulating liquid to be like that shown in Fig. '7. Y

The relatively warm liquid from the cooling tank enters the reservoir through conduit l2 and first passes, as shown in Figs. 2 and '1, between the side 2| of the reservoir and baille member` |Sa and, upon reaching the terminating edge 22a of member 20, which is spaced from the end plate 23 of the reservoir, is directed downwardly and flows in the opposite direction between side 2| and baffle member |817; on reaching the edge 24 of member 18h, which is spaced from the end plate 25 of the reservoir, the liquid turns about edge 24 and ows in the opposite direction between baile members |611 and |512; on reaching the edge 22h of baffle member 2D, the liquid is directed upwardly and ows in the opposite direction between baule members Ita and ia; upon reaching the terminating edge 26 of baiile member Ia, which is likewise spaced from end plate 25, the liquid reverses direction and ows between side 21 of the reservoir and baflie member Vlia; at terminating edge 22o of member 2t, the liquid once again is directed downwardly and flows in the opposite direction between side 21 and baffle member |51) and out through conduit |4 to the cooling tank, not shown. By following this tortuous passage through the reservoir, the circulating liquid is able to expend a sufficient amount of heat to readily meet the variation in cooling demand.

A refrigerator 28 is provided for the reservoir having a plurality Aof refrigerantreceiving and heat-absorbing assemblies 39 and 32. `Assembly 3D is mounted on one surface of baiiie members IEa, and |617, and assembly 32 is mounted on a corresponding surface of vbaille members lila. and |817. In this instance, each assembly comprises banks of coils integrally connected to one another and each assembly 3Q and 32 serves as a refrigerator for baffle members |611, |623, and Ita, |85, respectively. The refrigerant supply, means for circulating the refrigerant through the-coils, and the compressor for the refrigerator are of standard cons ruction and well known by those skilled in the art andytherefore, further description as to their operation isdeemed unnecessary. The refrigerant, ywhich may be ammonia, sulphur dioxide, etc., is introduced, as shown by arrow A, Fig. 3, into the cooling coils 39 and 32 in a liquid vform from the expansion valve, not shown, through conduits 34 and 35, respectively, and is removed from the coils, as shown Aby ,arrow B, in a gaseous state at conduits 35 and 31, respectively, to the compressor, not shown.

The sides 2i and 21, end plates 23 and 25, and

the base 38 of the reservoir are of water-tight,

insulated consruction. Mounted on either face of the baiile members 16a, |619, |8a, and i819, and on the inner surfaces of sides 2| and 21 of theres- `ervoir are a plurality of fin-like members 40. These members iii are constructed of relatively thin, rigid material, such as sheet metal, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, are of rectangular shape. It is to be understood, of course, that members All are not to -be limited to this particular shape. The members Il@ are spaced from one another along the surface of the baille members Ilia, |617, |8a, and |817, and extend in substantially a vertical direction. The vertical plane of the members 45 are offset approximately 30 with respect to the adjacent baiiie member to which they are secured.

It is to be noted that, on one side of the baille members, the assembly or coils are disposed intermediatethe iin-like members 49 and the adjacent bafe member. Suitable brackets 42 hold the outer edge 44 of the members 40 away from the adjacent coils and bafe members so that the edge 54 points in a direction substantially contra to the direction of iiow of the circulating liquid thereby causing turbulence of the liquid to occur. Because of such turbulence, greater heat is transferred from the liquid to the coils resulting in an increase in the eiiiciency of the system. The inner edges 4E of the members 4D are secured to r the adjacent coils or surface of the baffle member,

depending on which side of the baffle member they are placed, by welding or any other suitable means.

In the modied form of reservoir 48, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the flow of the circulating liquid is substantially in a vertical plane rather than a horizontal plane as for reservoir I0. In place of the cooling coils of reservoir Hl there are provided in reservoir 48 a plurality of vertically extending conduits 50, secured at either end to -headers 5| vand 52. The lower header 52 .issupplied with a refrigerant in a liquid state from a container 5e, mounted along the upper side of the reservoir above header 5|, by means of a vertically extending supply conduit 56. The upper header 5| receives the refrigerant in a gaseous state after it has passed from the lower header 52 Yup Ythrough conduits 50. From the upper header 5|, the gaseous refrigerant is passed through a compressor, condenser, andexpansion valve, -none of which are shown, and transformed back into a liquid state and returned to container 541| where the cycle will again be repeated. The liquid refrigerant supplied to lower header V52, through conduit 56, is controlled by a conventional float valve 51 mounted within container 54.

Mounted within the modified form of reservoir QB are a plurality of spaced, vertically-extending baiile members 58 and a single vertically-extending baie member e0 having its vertical plane at a right angle to thatof the spaced baffle members 58 and adapted to separate said members 58 'into substantially equal sections. The arrangement of bale members 58 and baille member 6d causes the circulating liquid to ilow in a substantially vertical vplane and alternately from one section of baffle members to the other. The vertical conduits 55 and 56 and headers 5| and'52 are secured to one side of baie members 58, as seen in Fig. 5.

As 'in reservoir il), plurality of fin-like members 62 are mounted on either side of baiile members 58 and angularly extend therefrom into :the

:space formed intermediate adjacent baffle members. The iin-like members extend from the bafe members se that they are pointing in a direction substantially contrato theow of the .circulating liquid and likewise cause turbulence -.of said liquid, thereby increasing the heat transfer from the liquid to the refrigerant circulating 'in the vertical conduits 58.

When the demand on the cooling system is small, that is to say, when the aforementioned cans or receptacles are removed from the cooling tank, the amount of heat carried by the circulating liquid is small resulting in the liquid adjacent the vertical conduits 59 congealing, as shown in Fig. 8. Upon increase of the demand of the cooling system, the circulating liquid, as indicated by arrow 64, Fig. 9, causes the congealed liquid to gradually melt away, thereby effecting greater cooling of the circulating liquid. The liquid circulating in reservoir il! also con- -geals about the cooling coils and between the ad- ,jacent ns when the cooling demand is reduced.

.The water circulation between the reservoir 4B and the cooling tank 65 is from the reservoir through the pipe 66 to the tank and from the tank through the pump Ia and pipe 61 to the reservoir 48. In general, when the cans are in the tank 65, ready to be cooled by the cooling water from the melting ice in the reservoir, the supply of refrigerant to the cooling coils in the reservoir is discontinued. The pump Ilia is started to effect circulation of water through the tank 65 and through the passages between the baffles IB, I8, and 20. At the beginning of the circulation of cooling water, the ice formation on the baiiles may be substantially as shown in Fig. 8, in which the general plane of the ice exposed to the circulating water is substantially flush with the plane of the outer edges of the fins B2. Under these conditions the flow through the passages between the baffles is comparatively unimpeded and not subjected to great turbulence. This smooth, uninterrupted, nonturbulent flow would continue as the ice continued to melt were it not for the turbulence-creating now-obstructing ns 62. Without these iins the effective cross section of the passages between the ice formations would increase as the ice melted, with a consequent decrease of the speed of flow since the volume of flow effected by the pump a would remain constant. With the turbulencecreating flow-obstructing fins functioning, the effective cross-sectional area of the flow channels is not changed by the melting of the ice as the ice-melting water has to flow through the bottlenecks between the adjace'ntedges of opposed ns projecting from the baffles. Furthermore, as the ice melts, the length of the ice surfaces between which the ice-melting water has to flow increases, as shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 9 shows how the icemelting water melts the water in the form of pockets between the fins, thus increasing the extent of surface of the exposed ice. These pockets also create turbulence which causes all parts of the ice-melting water to come in contact with the ice to be melted. The ice-melting is much faster when these ns are used than when they are not used, due to the increased speed of iiow of the ice-melting water along the exposed ice surfaces and due to the turbulence of the water created by the fins. Without these fins the water would ow in a sort of layer formation between the smooth exposed ice surfaces, the layers of water adjacent the ice giving up their heat to melt the ice but the remote layers not having this opportunity.

Thus it will be seen that a cooling system has been provided which eifectively handles variable cooling demands and has a greater heat-transferring eiiiciency because of the turbulence ofthe circulating liquid created by the iin-like members mounted on the bafe members.

While several embodiments of this invention are shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

l. A cooling system comprising a reservoir having a plurality of spaced baflie members mound therein, a cooling tank operatively connected to' said reservoir, means for circulating a common liquid through said reservoir and tank, a refrigerator for said reservoir having a refrigerantreceiving and heat-transferring assembly juxtaposed said baille members, and fin-like members' mounted on said baiiie members and extending into the space formed intermediate adjacent bafile members and extending substantially across the width of the flow stream to restrict the thick- 5 ness of the flow stream whereby the melting of the ice will not materially change the effective cross-sectional area of the ilow stream.

2. A cooling system comprising a reservoir having a plurality of spaced baiile members mounted therein, a cooling tank operatively connected to said reservoir, means for circulating a common liquid through said reservoir and tank,'a refrigerator for said reservoir having a refrigerantreceiving and heat-absorbing assembly provided with extensive heat-absorbing surfaces mounted on said bale members, and 1in-like members -projecting outwardly from said baflie members into the space formed intermediate adjacent bale members and extending substantially 'across the Width of the ilow stream to restrict the thickness of the flow stream whereby the melting of the ice will not materially change. the effetcive crosssectional area of the ow stream.

3. A cooling system comprising a reservoir having a plurality of spaced baiile members mounted therein, a cooling tank operatively connected to said reservoir, means for circulating a common liquid through said reservoir and tank, a refrigerator for said reservoir having a refrigerantreceiving and heat-absorbing assembly provided with extensive heat-absorbing surfaces' mounted on each of said baiile members, and iin-like members mounted on either side of said baille members and angularly extending therefrom into the space formed intermediate adjacent baillev members and extending substantially across the Width of the now stream to restrict the thickness of the ilow stream whereby the melting of the ice will not materially change the effective cross-sectional area of the ow stream.

4. A cooling system comprising a reservoir having a plurality of spaced ba'iiie members mount/ed therein, a cooling tank operatively connected to said reservoir, means for circulating a common liquid through said reservoir and tank,.the spacings between adjacent baifle'members being serially connected and providing a tortuous passage for said circulating liquid in said reservoir, a refrigerator for said reservoir having a plurality of refrigerant-receiving and heat-absorbing assemblies juxtaposed said baiiie members and provided with extensive heat-absorbing surfaces, and iin-like members disposed in said tortuous'passage and offset with respect to said baie members and extending substantially across the width of the flow stream to restrict the thickness of the flow stream whereby the melting of the ice will not materially change the eiective cross-sectional area of the flow stream. i

5. A cooling system comprising a reservoir having a plurality ofelongated, spaced baiiie members attached at one edge to the sides of said reservoir, a cooling tank operatively connected to said reservoir, means for circulating a common .liquid Lio a horizontal direction, a refrigerator for said reservoir having a plurality of refrigerant-receiving and heat-transferring assemblies juxtaposed said baffle members, and a plurality of iinlike members interposed said baiile members and extending substantially across the width of the flow stream to restrict the thickness of the ow stream whereby the melting of the ice will not materially change the effective cross-sectional area of the flow stream. l

through said reservoir and tank in substantially 6. Acooli-ng system comprising a reservoir having a-plur-ality of elongated, substantially parallel, spaced baiile members mounted therein, a Vcool-ing tank operatively connected to said reservoir, means for circulating a common liquid 'through said reservoir and tank, a refrigerator for said reservoir having a plurality of refrigerant-receiving and heat-absorbing assemblies mounted on said baille members, said assemblies adapted to receive a refrigerant for congealing the liquid adjacent thereto, and fin-like members interposed said balile-members and offset with respect thereto and extending substantially across the width of the ow stream to restrict the thickness of the flow vstream whereby the melting of the ice will` not materially change the effective cross-sectional area of the flow stream.

7. A cooling system comprising a reservoir having a plurality of baille members mounted therein;

acoollng tank operatively connected Vto said reservoir; means for circulating a common liquid through said reservoir and tank; a refrigerator for said reservoir comprising a source of refrigerant, a refrigerant-receiving and heat-absorbing assembly juxtaposed said baffle members, and means for circulating said refrigerant through said assembly; and iin-like members interposed said baiile members 'and offset with respect thereto and extending substantially across the width of the flow stream to restrict the thickness of the flow stream whereby the melting of the ice will not materially change the effective cross-sectional area ofthe flow stream, said assembly adapted to congeal the liquid adjacent thereto.

8. A cooling system comprising a reservoir hav- "L ing a plurality of spaced baffle members alternately secured at one edge to opposite sides of said reservoir, a cooling tank operatively connected to said reservoir, means for continuously circulating a liquid through said reservoir and tank, the ow of said liquid in said reservoir being substantially transverse relative to sides thereof, a refrigerator for said reservoir having a refrigerantreceiving and heat-absorbing assembly mounted on one face of said ballie member and covering substantially the entire area thereof, and a plurality of fin-like `members mounted on either face of said baille members and extending outwardly therefrom in an angular direction substantially opposed to the direction of flow of said circulating liquid and extending substantially across the Width of the ilow stream to restrict the thickness of the flow stream whereby the melting of the ice will not materially change the effective cross-sectional area of the flow stream.

9. A cooling system comprising a reservior having two sets of spaced, vertically extending baflf members mounted therein, one disposed above the other; a transversely mounted baille member interposed said sets; a cooling tank operatively connected to said reservoir; means for circulating a liquid through said reservoir and tank and common to both; the flow of said liquid in said reservoir being tortuous and passing alternately through said upper and lower sections; a refrigerator for said kreservoir having a plurality of refrigerant-receiving and heat-absorbing assemblies mounted on said baille members; and a plurality of fin-like members mounted on eithe1` face of said baffle members for effecting turbulent flow of said liquid therebetween and extending substantially across the Width of the ow stream to restrict the thickness of the .flow stream whereby the melting of the ice will notl lI naterial-ly change Cal vthe effective cross-sectionalV area of the fflow stream.

10. A cooling system comprising a reservoir having a plurality of equi-spaced, vertically '.extending baille members, and a transversely mounted baiile member separating said vertically extending bale members into substantially equal sections; a cooling tank operatively connected-to said reservoir; means for circulating a common liquid` through said reservoir and tank; the flow of the liquid in said reservoir being tortuous and alternately through said sections; a refrigerator for said reservoir having a refrigerant-receiving and heat-absorbing assembly mounted on one surface of each of said vertical bafile members and covering substantially the area of said surface; and fin-like members mounted on said balile members and angularly extending therefrom-into the space formed intermediate said adjacent baffle members and extending substantially across the width of the ow stream to restrict the thickness of the flow stream whereby the melting of the ice will not materially change the effectiveY crosssectional area of the flow stream; said assembly adapted to receive a refrigerant for congeal-in the circulating liquid adjacent thereto.

1l. A freezing and ice-melting cooling apparatus comprising two juxtaposed refrigerant-receiving and heat-transferring devices, each provided with an extensive heat transfer surface, said surfaces being substantially parallel to each-other, and means for causing a ow of congealable liquid in the passage between said surfaces, whereby the liquid may be congealed on said surfaces'by the refrigerant and may be melted therefrom by the flow of the liquid, each'surface being provided with a series of substantially parallel ilow barriers extending substantially across the widthof the flow stream and extending from said surface toward the other surface to restrict the thickness of the flow stream, whereby .as the ice melts the effective cross-sectional area of the ilow stream will not be changed'materially.

12. A freezing and ice-melting cooling apparatus comprising two juxtaposed refrigerant-receiving and heat-transferring devices, each provided with lan extensive heat transfer surface, said surfaces being substantially parallel to each other for causing a flow of congealable liquid in the passage between said surfaces, whereby the liquid may be congealed on said .surfaces by the refrigerant and may be melted therefrom by the iiow of the liquid, each surface being provided with a series of substantially parallel flow barriers. extending substantially across the width of the flow stream and extending from said surface toward the other surface to restrict the thickness of the ow stream, whereby as the ice melts the effective cross-sectional area vof the flow stream will not be changed materially, said barriers `being shaped to provide pockets opening toward theoncoming flow of liquid, whereby as the ice in the pockets melts, the exposed ice surface will increase in extent.

13. A freezing and ice-melting cooling apparatus comprising two juxtaposed refrigerant-receiving and heat-transferring devices, each provided with an .extensive heat transfer surface, said surfaces being substantially parallelrto each other for causing a flow of congealable liquid inthe passage between said surfaces, whereby the liquid may be congealedon said surfaces by the refrigerant and may be meited therefrom bythe flow of the liquid, each surface being provided with a series of substantially `parallel new barriers extending substantially across the width of the flow stream and extending from said surface toward the other surface to restrict the thickness of the flow stream, whereby as the ice melts the effective cross-sectional area of the flow stream will not be changed materially, the barriers on two surfaces being opposite each other, whereby they co-operate to define the effective ow area.

14. A freezing and ice-melting cooling apparatus comprising two juxtaposed refrigerant-receiving and heat-transferring devices, each provided with an extensive heat transfer surface on each face, said surfaces being substantially parallelto each other for causing a flow of congealable liquid in the passages along and between said surfaces, whereby the liquid may be congealed on said surfaces by the refrigerant and maybe melted therefrom by the flow of the liquid, each surface being provided with a series of substantially parallel flow barriers extending substantially across the Width of the flow stream and extending from said surface toward another surface to restrict the thickness of the flow stream, whereby as the ice melts the effective cross-sectional area of the flow stream will not be changed materially.

15. A freezing and ice-melting cooling apparatus comprising two juxtaposed refrigerant-receiving and heat-transferring devices, each provided with an extensive heat transfer surface, said surfaces being substantially parallel to each other for causing a flow of congealable liquid in the passage between said surfaces, whereby the liquid may be congealed on said surfaces by the refrigerant and may be melted therefrom by the flow of the liquid, each surface being provided with a series of substantially parallel flow barriers extending substantially across the width of the iiow stream and extending from said surface toward the other surface to restrict the thickness of the flow stream, whereby as the ice melts the effective cross-sectional area of the iiow stream will not be changed materially, a cooling tank, and means for causing a fiow of liquid from said passage to said tank and from said tank to said passage.

16. A freezing and ice-melting cooling apparatus comprising a refrigerant-receiving and heattransferring device provided with an extensive heat transfer surface, a flow guide having an extensive liquid ow guide surface parallel to said heat transfer surface, and means for causing a flow of congealable liquid in the passage between said surfaces, whereby the liquid may be congealed on said heat transfer surface by the refrigerant and may be melted therefrom by the iioW of the liquid, said heat transfer surface being provided with a series of substantially parallel flow barriers extending substantially across the width of the flow stream and extending from said heat transfer surface toward the other surface to restrict the thickness of the flow stream, whereby as the ice melts, the effective cross-sectional area of the fiow stream will not be changed materially.

JOSEPH I. MORRISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,891,714 Jordan Dec. 20, 1932 1,966,632 Larkin July 17, 1934 2,425,703 Morse Aug. 12, 1947 2,448,453 Morrison Aug. 31, 1948 

